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A wide choice of topics covered from the dawn of history right up to present days . Many of these have a wider relevance than purely within the context of Strathearn . The author's viewpoint often is at variance with the accepted opinions espoused elsewhere eg The Jacobite Uprisings and The Reformation .

Cock Fighting In Crieff -Big Crowds and Big Money In The 19th Century !

Asa collectorof the odd littlebook or pamphlet , I neverceaseto enjoy whatwas writtenin daysgone by .I procured a small
bookletmany yearsback from a local sourceandalthoughin a somewhat shabby
condition, it isfull ofdelightful littlecameos of the Crieff of yesteryear . Entitled
“Crieff in the Victorian Era”by “ Dixon “ itis on
parwith Macara for its colloquial and
couthydelights !Written inwonderfullydescriptivestyle ithasstoodout in my thoughtsfor many a year .Thefollowing is a taleconcerning what was Strathearn’smain sporting interest in the early part of
the 19th Century . No it wasn’t football or golfbutcock fighting . Notacceptable in
this day and ageand an undoubtedly
cruel and somewhat barbaric past time , itattracted much interest and followingin thosefar off days . Cock
fightingwas popular with the general public
as it attracted a large amount of betting with considerable stake money going
to the winning owner.This little tale
is not intended a s a defenceof the
pastbutpurely an historical account of what it was

like . It isnot
generally known that cock fighting at one timewas a regularfeature in Crieff
within the other wise staid sanctumof
the Weavers’ Hall in what is now Commissioner Street . Apologies to Rory
Stewart of the Broich – I mentioned to him that this talewas in Macara but was wrong !

Please notethat this
tale is an historical account of something that occurred nearly two
hundredyears ago in Crieff . I do not
condone, supportor publicise cruel
sports but as an historian find it incumbent to highlightwhat did occur – be it now unacceptable in
today’s society .

The Old Sporting Days

Good Queen Victoria the first is coronated . The bell rings ,
the folks cheer and do many otherthings
necessary for the occasion , and the day passesamidst very satisfactory enthusiasm . But there is something which
remainsto complete the day , and that
something is on every- body’smind . It
is a cock fight . to witness the encounter Lochlane , Strowanand Monzievaird , Fowlis andMonziesend their hordes , who come partly on foot and partly in hay – carts .

For days past the
young Queen and the cock fight have been discussed and re discussed in
everyweaver’s shop , at every corner ,
at every farm , and on every road , and the moneyat stakebeing in proportion to the importance of the event , the names of the
principal sportsmenre upon everyone’s
lips . All the countryroads swarmwith the heavy traffic , and people stagger
forward in their hurry to reach the town . Carts , with their precious loads ,
rumble along ; farmers on horseback mingle with the crowd ;and the cries and shouts of thepassengers make the merry clinking of the
harness on the excited horses almostsink into insignificance .

“ The Young Queen , “
“ Horrrah , Horrah “ , and the cries are kept up for miles along the road –
only to be repeated and passed back with additional enthusiasm .
Everywherefriendshipand good fellowship prevail in honour of the
great day . Before the sun setsfight
unparalleledin interestfor miles a roundwil be fought and won .

King and Sharp have
long been names notorious for cock fighting . The former – the owner of some gallant
birds – belongs the Bridgend, and in an honest open fight , can produce birds
to match anything in the district . The challenge was thrown outbySharp of Crieff , whose shady practises were not by any mans unfamiliar
to the ring , but whose name as a cunning breeder of first – class birds was
well and widely known .Both finely – trained smugglers they had fallen out in a
public- house near Amulree, and after the fight was announcedand the stakes were arranged , the news was
spread abroad in all directions . It required no sporting newspaper then to intimate
coming events .

A beautiful site for
the encounter has been selected on the Broich estate ( the belief is that the
Laird is ill in bed ) . And what a glorious afternoon! A cloudless sky extendsfrom the Grampiansto the Ochilsand the sinking sun shinesforth
in all its lurid glory ; the gentle wind familiarto June sighs peacefullyin every tree , and the roads are carpeted
with the dust of many days . As the last rays of the sun strikeupon the valley the enormous crowdbegin to wend their wayin the direction of the Bridge ; and,
crossingthe burn by a series of planks
fixed for the occasion are soon in the neighbourhood of the ring . Closely they
pack together, and those who are late in arriving, fill up the open space on
the hillock behind , from which a splendid vies of the ring can be obtained .
How many people there will be present it is difficult to estimate. But they
form a mixed crowd. From every part of the district representatives are present
and conversation is loud and vigorous on the prospects of the coming fight. Monzie
men support Sharp because his mother is a M’Ara ; the Strowan contingent back
Kingbecause his sister is marriedto the Laird’s coachman ; while the Fowlis
men , actuatedby the same motives which
impelledthe Ephesian idol makersto shout – “ Great is Dianna , “ &c.,
range themselves on the side of Sharp ( Fowlis at this timewas the chiefcentre of the riddle- making industry , and King being engaged in this
trade in the Bridgend the position of the Fowlismen is easily understood. ).

Here in this mighty
throng what excitement prevails. The spectators behind press forward; those in
front press back , and peopleroar and
cheeras the namesof favourite sportsmen are shouted across the
ring . Good – humoured banter passesbetweenthe men of Fowlisand Bridgend – the later indulging in trade
referencesregarding the “ Celestial
City “ and the riddle trade. Monzieand
Monzievaird remind each other of past tussles in the ringand the hourfor the start comesquickly upon
them. As final preparationsare being
made by the referee,, shouts of “ The Broich ,” “ The Broich, “ are heardfrom the top of the hillock , and at that
moment the laird , who is a terror to the whole community , isseen striding over the turnip field in the
vicinity of the arena . The two principals secure theirbirds , nd make their escape ; the referee
remembering the fate of the old poacher , and knowing the dangers of
entertaining the Broich preserves , takes to his heels , and the whole crowd
follow suit at their utmost speed towards the public highway . Picture the
scene if you can . Excited men , startled women , and terrifiedchildrentrip and tumble in their anxiety to escape the clutches of the Laird ,
and pantingand gaspinglike brewery horses , they reach the highway
.

The Broich follows
leisurely . As he walksup the
streetnot even a dog is to be seen ,
the streets being desertedas the ruins
of Thebes . Doors are barredand blindsare drawn – such is thefear
inspired by the appearance of the Laird . Two hoursafterwardsthe principalsand several
supporters gatherround the Gallows Tree
– on the Drummond estate and outside the jurisdiction of the Broich – and there
preparatory arrangementsare madefor the fight being fought to thebitter end . But the referee fails to put in
an appearance. On a search being instituted he is found dead drunk round the
corner, and the stakes lie in the nearest pub. And so ends the great battle.

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